Chapter 229
I'm not bragging or anything, but since I was sitting next to Tsuki hyung, I had a clear view of Yoo Seol-ah and Nagi chatting across from us, tilting their heads toward each other. They were whispering, so I couldn't catch exactly what they were saying, but side by side like that, they really did look like sisters. The amazing thing is how Yoo Seol-ah gives off that sisterly vibe no matter who she's next to. Whether it's Lee Seo-yeon, Yuna unnie, or even my little sister Baek Sia—it's the same. Hell, even next to Baek Sia, Yoo Seol-ah somehow comes off as the younger sister. So yeah, she's got that innate little-sister charm, perfectly tuned to melt girls' hearts. Just look at Nagi now—there's a smile tugging at her lips.
"Nothing beats the feeling of characters coming alive in a gacha game, and now you've got 'em right there in real life? Character design's a breeze with that. It'd be even better if someone recognizes faces we don't know."
Nagi had already signaled she'd join in, so Tsuki hyung was the one listening most intently. Doyun hyung was pitching to everyone, but convincing Tsuki seemed like his top priority. With all the external Lupco Yanglip commitments he handles, Tsuki's gotta be way busier than Nagi. Unlike Nagi, who's clearly eager just from working with Yoo Seol-ah, Tsuki seemed to be weighing things carefully.
"So that's how Yuna unnie's illust came about?"
"Yeah, I was Ruwen there."
Yuna unnie said it like she was revealing a nickname, a bit embarrassed. Nagi wasn't hung up on terms—she was just genuinely intrigued, chatting away with Yoo Seol-ah. Then Yoo Seol-ah whispered something back, and her face turned dead serious.
...Probably some weird idea again. As her self-proclaimed master, I can tell: when her eyes lose focus but stay intense like that, she's scheming something offbeat 100% of the time. To a stranger, her cool face might look soulfully deep, but I've seen her swallow nervously too—I know better. Back in the day, I might've second-guessed myself, but not anymore. Just today proved what happens when she's honest about her desires. Anyway, nothing major, so I turned back to Doyun hyung.
"Gameplay's mostly locked in. Maps keep expanding too."
Not surprising anymore, but the battle screen looked way cleaner than a few days ago. He's probably pouring that Astasia bonus stamina into this. Doyun hyung's a workaholic, so converting mana to stay healthy isn't out of the question.
"...How many months since you started?"
"About a month now? Exact start date's logged somewhere."
Tsuki hyung looked a bit stunned. Watching Doyun hyung up close makes games seem like they pop out overnight. But hearing one guy framed a whole game in a month? Game devs worldwide would freak. If there were multiples at his level, AAA titles would flood the market.
"Makes sense why not just anyone succeeds in games, huh?"
"Got lucky."
S.O.S's dark vibe clicked in Japan too, so Tsuki was shocked it was from Doyun hyung's high school days. Even though he started Lupco Yanglip's original story back then too. Everyone's humble or whatever, but they undervalue themselves.
"Ruwen's geared up now... Effects aside, rigging's nearly done."
Ruwen hopped between grid squares at Doyun hyung's clicks. Yuna unnie was touched, even knowing it wasn't exactly her.
"Magic did this?"
"Yup. Inpung Doll. Motions are direct from the actor."
"Grand Mages do that too?"
"...One of my mentors specializes."
Over there, Yoo Seol-ah was soaking up Nagi's praise. Deserved—she slashed art time drastically. Doyun hyung said it halved dev time. Watching her beam with that dopey grin, she seemed worlds away from the seductive kisser earlier. The truth serum was real... meaning she hides a ton of her lust normally.
...Does that even make sense? But yeah, she's beyond normal anyway.
"Feels fresh—like old JRPG tricks."
"Trends cycle. Real-time vs. turn-based? Turns fit strategy better."
Tsuki pondered each detail. Illustrators set first impressions; story writers lock core fans. Recruiting him is near-essential. Like Yuna unnie, writers need Astasia know-how. Outsourced art's fine, but story craves returnees.
"Tossing in brain-teaser rounds too. Wanna try?"
"...You made those already?"
"Yup. Hate games you brute-force with specs. Special stages ongoing."
Doyun hyung hustled hard. Brainy stages? As a board-game nut, I loved it. Subculture gachas for teens/20s beat idle pay-to-win. Mobile fatigue hits at "bonsai games"—daily grind vs. tough clears.
"Me too."
"Count me in."
Club folks are smart and competitive—quiz stages fired everyone up. Doyun hyung grinned, pulling up an 8x8 map dotted with ally/enemy units. Chess-inspired combat, so probably puzzle tactics. Chess is my jam, so I sharpened up.
"Knight character attacks d8 square."
"...Correct."
"Ah, I almost had it..."
I've never thought I'm dumb. But now? Seriously questioning. Watching Baek Sion and Yuna unnie solve everything prepped? Soul-crushing. Ratio: Sion 6, Yuna unnie 3, scraps for us scrubs (sans Doyun oppa). Not like they hogged—everyone dove in eagerly, knew the chess system. But by the time we crunched options, they'd nailed it. No chance to shout answers. Even Doyun oppa looked rattled. Tough puzzles, he said they'd give leeway in-game... yet first-try solves.
Roha unnie, still baffled post-answer, whispered to me with the same face.
"...Is your boyfriend a genius?"
"...Husband. And yeah, genius."
"But you look bummed...?"
"Honestly, he's annoying...! Never playing brain games with him."
Memorization's fine, but strategy? Sworn off ages ago. Annoying traits galore.
"Not just brains. His music work? Total perv vibes."
His ear for sound screams genius instantly. Explains Sia saying she's talentless next to oppa.
"And dissecting his features? Prettier than me. Long lashes too."
"......"
Plus killer cooking, slender pretty fingers... If you've never felt wifely defeat, you won't get it. But mid-rant, I noticed Roha unnie eyeing me weird.
"...Bragging?"
"No, not bragging...!"
...Sounds off to others? But it wasn't. Especially after earlier—he's chill while I'm hyper-aware. That's the most irritating part.